– To the Wheeling Police Department and Belmont County Sheriff’s Office for their continued support of children with “Operation Toy Lift.” The event, set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Ohio Valley Mall, offers a brighter Christmas to many children in our region.

– To the musical directors, students and staff at Wheeling Park High School that have kept a holiday tradition, the Festival of Sound, going for the past 30 years. This year’s event, set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec.12 and Saturday, Dec. 13, and for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, will feature Wheeling Park students playing and singing holiday favorites at the J.B. Chambers Performing Arts Center. It’s a holiday event every resident of Ohio County should attend –and one to always be proud of.

– To the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference for adding a new event to the annual Ron Mauck OVAC Wrestling Championships — a separate girls wrestling tournament. After surveying coaches and schools, OVAC leaders said the time is right to add a sanctioned girls wrestling tournament to the event, set for Jan. 15-17. This marks a new chapter in wrestling here in our valley.

– To all those that stepped forward over the past two weeks to ensure those living in Wheeling’s former homeless encampment had their possessions accounted for and had someplace warm to go. As was stated at this past Tuesday’s council meeting, the key now is for the community to come together and truly work to figure out how we move forward where this issue is concerned.